MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed that verbal agreements are in place for the fight, which was first reported by MMAFighting.com.

WEC 52 place Dec. 16 at Jobing.com Arena near Phoenix in Glendale, Ariz. The night’s main card, including a pair of title fights, airs live on Versus.

As MMAjunkie.com first reported back in September, Wineland was expected to fight Damacio Page at Thursday’s WEC 52 event in Las Vegas. However, an injury eventually forced him off the card.

But the layoff will be a short one for Wineland, who looks for his fourth straight WEC victory following decision wins over Manny Tapia and George Roop and a TKO victory over Will Campuzano at WEC 49. The WEC’s first-ever 135-pound champ looks to reclaim his belt, which he lost to Chase Beebe in 2006. Wineland, who’s resurrected his career in the past couple years, is 5-1 since that title loss.

Stone, an American Top Team fighter who’s competed all over the East Coast, is a finisher who’s posted stoppages in all nine of his career victories. His only loss came via split decision to Jason McLean back in 2009 in a fight in which he broke his foot. Stone hasn’t exactly faced world-beaters thus far in his career, but the former NCAA Division III wrestler does own wins over Chris Simmons (6-0 at the time) and Ben Manseau (5-1).

The latest WEC 53 card includes:

MAIN CARD

Champ Benson Henderson vs. Anthony Pettis (for lightweight title)

Champ Dominick Cruz vs. Scott Jorgensen (for bantamweight title)

Donald Cerrone vs. Chris Horodecki

Bart Palaszewski vs. Kamal Shalorus

Shane Roller vs. Jamie Varner

PRELIMINARY CARD

Ivan Menjivar vs. Brad Pickett

Danny Castillo vs. Will Kerr

Renan Barao vs. Chris Cariaso

Ken Stone vs. Eddie Wineland*

Danny Downes vs. Tiequan Zhang*

Yuri Alcantara vs. Ricardo Lamas*

* – Not officially announced

For the latest on WEC 53, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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